randall



(No Model.)

4 SheetsfSheet 1.

A. F. RANDALL. OIL GAS GENERATOR.

PatentedfAug. 9, 1.887.

lll--l Witwe ooe L N. PETERS. Phono-Lahnsmpher. wnhmgxm D. c.

4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

A'. P.'v RANDALL.

OIL GAS GENBRATOR.

No. 367,844; Patented Aug. 9,1887.

' (No Model.) 4 sheets-'sheen 3.

A. P. RANDALL.' OIL GAS GENERATOR.

No. 367,844.A Patented Aug. 9, 1887.

(No Model.) I 4 Sheets-Sheet 4. A. F. RANDALL.

l OIL GAS GENERATOR. No. 367,844. Patented Aug. 9, 1887.

wmp/He: .Ziweadar UNITED STATES y PATENT OEEicEo AARON F. RANDALL, `OFWASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. l

OIL-GAS GENERATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 367,844, dated August9, 1887.

- Application iiled August 19, 1856. Serial No. 211,232. (No model.) y

To all whom, t may concern: f

Beit known that I, AARON F. RANDALL,` a citizen of the United States,residing in the city of Washington, in the Dist-riet of Colum,`

bia, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Apparatus forGenerating Gas from Liquid Hydrocarbons for Heating and `Illumi= nat-ingPurposes; and I do declare that the following is a full, exact, andclear description of the invention, which will enable others skilled inthe art to which it appertains to make and use the same. Y Y

My inventionrelates to that class ofoil-gas generating apparatus 'whichconsume oil as a fuel, in which the oil is subjected't'o heat, andthereby vaporized or converted intokk gas before arriving atthe pointwhere ignition and combustion take place, whereby an apparatus may be soconstructed thatthe heat produced by the combustion of the gas from theoil decomposed in one part of it may be utilized in vaporizing anddecomposing so much of the oil as enters another section oftheapparatus, and from it may be conveyed into a common gas-receivingchamber provided withsuitable burners, in which it may be consumed inheating the apparatus, or it may be conveyed by a pipe into a gasholder,where, after the admixture of the proper quantity of atmospheric air, itmay be conveyed to any desired point in a pipe for use for illuminationor other purposes. This improved apparatus can bc used l'or heatingpurposes when not desired for the manufacture of gas for illumination,or for both purposes at the same time. In converting the Adistillates ofpetroleum into 'vaporor gas it is requisite, in order that the best re`suits may be secured, to first vaporize the same bythe application ofheat, and then to subject such vapors toa much higher degree of heat.This mode of procedure insures a uniform and complete conversion of theoil into gas, and yields thelatter in the conditionbest adapted foreconomical use for vheating and illuminating purposes.

The object of my invention is to provide a safe, simple, and inexpensiveconstruction of retorts and burners embodying this principle ofoperation, and which shall be adapted for ready and convenientapplication to any ore between the same.

dinar f stoves ranoes furnaces and rates of Y partlyin section. Fig. 3is a vertical transverse l Fig. 2 is a 'view in elevation of the same,with one of the retorts or gas heating chambers sectional view online xin Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a plan View of the base portion thereof, with theIiange around the outer edge of the upper side of the same forming thedrip or lire pan. Fig. 5 is a plan view ofthe tops of the rctorts orgas-heating chambers, and shows the nre-spaces Fig. Gis an end View ofthe gas generating andfheating retorts. Fig. 7 is aview of the exteriorof a vaporizing chamber. Fig. S isa view of the oil-supply pipe coveredwith asbestus and wire-netting. Fig. 9 is a View of that part of theoil-supply pipe within the vaporiziiig-chamber. Fig. l0

' is a side view of one of the caps or end pieces into which the openend of the vaporizing chamber is screwed.

Fig. llis a view of the inner side of one of said caps. Fig. l2 is a'similar view of the exterior of the same. Fig. "13 is a plan view ofthel upper side of the de- ;ilector-plate, and Fig. 14 isa View incrossfsection ofthe piece fitting the opening D in the deliector-plateD. Fig. 15 is a longitudinal vertical section through one of thepassages in the neck connecting the generator with the gas'rcceivingchamber.

The apparatus shown in Figs. l, 2, 3, 5, and 6 is substantially of anoblong rectangular shape, and is adapted to be used in stoves,

furnaces, or ranges having interior lire-spaces' of similar form; butthe same may be made circular or of any other suitable form, and adaptedto use in those stoves, ranges, or furnaces Ywhich have lire-spaces ofcorresponding form, so that the apparatus may fit snugly and IOOproperly within the tire-space and rest upon the grate or bottom of thestove, furnace, or range.

When intended for generating gas for both heating and illuminatingpurposes, the apparatus is constructed with two or more gas-heatingretorts or chambers, A, Figs. 1 'and 2, and also shown in Figs. 3, 5,and 6. Each gasheating retort or chamber has its own Vaporizing-chamber,(shown at H in Figs. 2, 3, and 7,) cach in like manner formed of ashell, r, and is closed at one end and is screw-threaded externally atthe open end, upon which the cap E (shown in Figs. 2, 5, 6, 10, 1l, and12) is screwed. This cap E is provided on its inner side with a ring orprojection, a, Fig. 11, screw-threaded upon its interior and exteriorsides, as shown in Fig. 10. Each of the caps E is also provided witli anopening (shown by the dotted lilies 'w in Fig. 2, and in full lines inFigs. 6, 1l, and 12,) through it, which is also screw-threaded toreceive the oil-supply pipesfand f.

The vaporizing-chambers H and the gasheating retorts A may be madecylindrical, square, elliptical, or otherwise in cross-section, and asconvenience or other considerations may suggest.

The gas-heating retorts or chambers A are placed in close proximity toeach other, as shown in Figs. 3 and 5, with a narrow space between them,as shown at l. in Figs. 3, 5, and 6, to permit of the passage ot' theproducts of eorubustion,and at the same time in order that all portionsof the walls or shells thereof may be subjected to the heat. They may beconstructed with walls J, Figs. 1, 3, 5, and 6, extending across thisspace between them,and vertically from the lower to the upper sides atthe ends' thereof, thus forming a lue or dues between them, as shown atl) in Fig. 5. These end walls extend upward for a suiicient distanceabove the `tops of the gasheating retorts or chambers, and are providedwith shoulders Q,so as to form supports upon which the ends ot' thedeileetor-plate D are to rest. These supports and shoulders Q are shownin Figs. 1, 3, 5, and 6, and the upper portions of the extensions of thewalls J enter notches Q', Fig. 13, in the ends of the detleetor-plate D,and serve to retain itin position.

The dellector-plate resting upon the shoulders Q forms a ilue above thegas-heating retorts or chambers, which conveys the products ofcombustion around the adjacent and upper sides of the gas-heatingretorts or chambers. The dellector-plate D is provided with an opening,D', directly over the flue P, extending longitudinally, and a. movablepiece (shown by D, Fig. 14) is itted thereto, by which the opening D maybe closed, but which may be removed when necessary to permit of thepassage through it of the products of combustion. The shell of thevaporizingchamber H may conveniently be formed tubular, with the innerend closed in any suitable manuel'. It is screw-threaded externally atthe open end,and has numerous small holes,0, Figs. 2 and 7, for thepassage of the .oilvapors generated within the same outwardly into thegas-heating retort or chamber H.

The oil-supply pipe may be surrounded by some porousnon-combustible1naterial-sueh as ibrous asbestus, mineral wool,closelycoiled iron or steel wire, iron or steel filings or tu rnings,orother suitable material-preferably with a space between this materialand the inner wall of the generatilig-chamber. W'hen fibrousnon-combustible material is empoyed,it is usually inelosed in awire-netting, O, (see Fic. 3,) which serves to retain it in its properplace. This porous non-combustible material distributes the oil passingfrom the eil-supply pipes uniformly and in finely-divided portions tothe exterior of the packing, and thus produces a steady and evenvapor-ization of the oil. The flow of vapors through the openings o o inthe shells or walls of the vaporizing-chambers is thus made steady andcontinuous, avoiding all pulsations of the llames at the burners K.These pulsations are common in all ordinary burners, and are caused bythc irregular vaporization of the oil when fiowing in limited quantityfrom the supplypipe directly against the heated surfaces of thevaporizing chambers. The shells a a of the gas-heating retorts orchambers A A are each closed at one end, and at the other end areprovided with an orifice, z z, Fig. 2, screwthreaded, and closed by thecap E, as shown in Figs. 2 and 6. These openings are ol' sulicient sizeto permit the passage through them of their respectivevaporizing-chambers H H. \Vhen the vaporizing chambers H H are screwedinto the flanges u of the caps ll, the latter are then screwed into theopenings z, andthe exterior of the walls of the vaporizing chambers aremaintained at proper distances from the interior surfaces of walls ofthe gasheating retorts or chambers, thus forming narrow spaces a"between them. (See rv in Figs. 2 and 3.) Each of the oil-supply pipesffenters its vaporiZilig-chamber through a screwthreaded opening, w, ineach cap E, and extends for a suftieient distance within thevaporizing-chamber, and has numerous small openings, o, Fig. S), alongthat portion within the vapori/.ingchamber, to permit the escape of theoil therefrom. It is closed at the inner end, as shown at Z, Fig. 9, andis connected with a common oil-supply pipe, fl, Fig. 1, which in turncommunicates with the oil-reservoir- G, Fig. 1, which is suitablydisposed above the level of the gas-heating retorts A. These pipes areprovided with valves g r/ g2, of any suitable kind, to regulate the llowof oil through them.

C, Figs. l, 2, 3, and 6, is a short supporting tube or leg, which ispreferably made square in crosssection,except at the lower end,where itis rounded and screw-threaded, as shown in Figs. 3 and 6, and is screwedinto an opening N, Fig. 4, in the top of thegas-receiving chamber B, andserves to support the gas-heating Ico IIO

chambers A. This tube or leg, where two generator-chambers are used inone apparatus, is provided with two passages, as shown at M and M',which extend its entire length, and each of which communicates with theinterior of a gas-heating retort or chamber atits upper end, andA at thelower end with the interior of the gas-receiving chamber B. Theconnection between-the gas-heating chamber andthe gaas receiving chambermay consist of one or more necks, each containing'one or more passages,or they may be simply tubes or pipes, and any desired number may beemployed. One of these passages is provided `with .a Valve, c', Fig. 3,by which communication through the same between the gas heating chamberand the gas-receiving ehamberis controlled.V It is also provided with asecond opening, c2, between the valve c' and the gas-heating retort,which is screw-threaded and receives the end of pipe z', whichcommunicates with the gas-holder F, or to other burners. Valve g3 inpipe i controls thepassage of gas throughpipe fi. The passages M and M'enter the shells of their respective gas-heating retorts or chambersatthe lowest point of theirinner surfaces, and that portion of each ofthese passages within the -walls of the gas-heating retorts, and as faras may be necessary outwardly, is made narrowerin its verticalcross-section than. in its longitudinal cross-section, as shown at g inFig.

2. rlhis tubev or leg C may extend upward, as shown at t, between theadjacent walls of theI lgas-heating retorts, and serves t-o form apartition,dividing the fire-space P into two tiues, P P, and maybeextended upward as far as the tops of the gas heating retorts.

c is a rib or lug on the` side of leg C, provided )vith the opening d,through which the oil-supply pipeh, which forms the auxiliary burner,passes, and serves to hold t-he same'inl a firm position.

B in. Fig. l is the gas-receiving chamber, into which the gas from thegas heating retorts A passes through the passages M and M in thesupporting-leg (Land it is providedwith suitable eduets or openings(shown at Z) upon its upperside or elsewhere in its walls, as may bepreferable. These openings or ed uctsZ are provided with suitableburners, as shown at k, to insure the perfect combustion ofthe gas as itescapes therefrom.

Around the outer edge and upon the upper side of the gas-receivingchamber is a raised rim of sufcient height, forming a drip1')an, (shownat L,)wh ich servesto catch and retain any overliow of oil from theauxiliary bu rner h.

In the drawings, Fig. 2, the burners are represented as being of thekind known as the Bunsen burner5 but I may use any other of A a suitablekind.

n is a raised portion or boss upon the upper side of the center portionofthe gas receiving chamber to add thickness to that portion of itsshell, and it is provided with the, opening N, whichis screw-threade`dto receive the Screw-threaded end of the supporting tube or leg C. Thedotted lines p2p in Fig. 6 show the outer and inner surfaces oftheshells or walls of the gasheatng retorts A.

J J indicate the end walls between the gasheating retorts A, unitingthem, and which serve tor form the ends of the lines or firespaces P.

In Fig. 2 the dotted lines qshow the inner surface of the gas-heatingretort A, r the shell of the vaporizing chamber H, and s the walls ofthe oil-supply pipej',and the relative positions ofthe said severalparts to each other when the vaporizjng-chamber, together with itsoi1supply pipe, is in its proper positions. f

vx,between the dotted lines q and r,indicates the narrow spacebetweenthe outer surface of the vaporizilig-chamber and the inner surface ofthe gas-heating retort, 'into which the vapor of the oil passes on itsescape Vfrom the vaporizingcham ber.

e is the open space between the upper su rface of the gasheating AretortA and the de- Hector D, as shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 6.

I proceed as follows to use my apparatus: The oil reservoir beingsupplied with liquid hydrocarbons, preferably the lighter distillates ofpetroleum, the valves g g are first opened and a quantity of the oilsufficient to fully saturate the packing within the vaporizingchamber ispermitted to flow. through pipes fand f. These valves are then closedyto cut off the suppl y of the oil in order to prevent flooding thevaporizing-'chamber when valve g2 is opened to permit the oil to iowintok pipe h. The oil issuing from the openings o`l in pipe h is thenignitedand thetla'mes therefrom surround the gas-heating retorts A A,heating them and the vaporiziiig-chambers H to such a degree that theoil with which the packing within the latter is saturated is vaporized.The vapor makes its vway out of the vaporiziiig-chambers through theopenings o o in the shells or walls, and fills the narrow spaces abetween the exterior surfaces of the vaporizingchambers H and ot' theinterior lsurfaces ofthe gas-heating retorts A A, being thereby spreadoutinto a thin stratum and u uniformly subjected to the action of theheated surfaces of the shells of the gas-heating retorts A A. The gasescapes from the gas-heating retorts through the passages M and M in thetube or leg C, passing downward through said passages into thegasreceiving chamber B, and thence into the burners l, where it isignited by the flames issuing from the openings o'l in pipe h. As soonas the gas issuing from the burners K isignited, valveg2 is closed IOOTIO

to cut off the flow of the oil intopipe h, and

valves g gt are opened. The supply of oil to the vaporizing-chainbers iscontrolled by these -valves g and g', the tiames of the gas issuing fromthe burners K,playing against the lower part of the outer surfaces ofthe gas-heating retorts or chambers A A, one portion following theoutersurfaces of the exterior walls outwardly and upward, and another portionpassing upward through thc flues I I, around the adjacent walls ofthegas-heating retorts until, striking the dctlector D, they are forcedoutwardly over the upper surfaces of the gasheating retorts, and aredistributed and divided, as may be desired. By the removal of piece D2ofthe deflcctor-platc D that portion .of the tlamcs passing upwardthrough theiucs P I is permitted to pass through the opening D' in thedeiiector-plate.

1When it is desired to manufacture gas for purposes of illumination, orfor any other purpose, I proceed as stated above until agood supply ofgas is escaping from the gasreceiving chamber through the burners, whenvalve g3 in pipe i is opened and valve c in the supporting tube or leg Cis closed, and the flow ofthe gas from one of the gasheating retorts Ainto the gas-receiving chamber B is cut off and conveyed through pipetto other burners, or into the gas-holder F, when it is mixed with theproper quantity of atmospheric air, which is forced into the gas-holder,and thence conveyed through pipes to the place desired for use.

The gas-holder F is provided with an air force-pump of any suitablekind, by means of which the requisite quantity of atmospheric air may beforced into the same for admixture with the gas formed from thedecomposed vapors of the liquid hydrocarbons to properly prepare thelatter for illuminating purposes.

Having thus described my invention and its method ot' operation, what Iclaim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. The combiuatiomwith a generator-chamber, of an oil-supply pipeextending within said chamber, the part within said chamber beingperforated` and a stratum of tibrous or porous nou-combustible materialinterposed between the supply-pipe and the inner walls ofthegenerator-chamber, space being left between said uoircombustiblematerial and the inclosng walls, sub tintially as described.

2. The combinat.ion,with a generator-chamber, of au oil-supply pipeextending into said generator-chamber, the part wit-hin said chamberbeing perforated, and a gas-heating chamber wholly iuclosing thegenerator chamber, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with a generator-chamber, of an oil-supply pipeextending within the same, the part within the said chamber beingperforated, a stratum of asbestus surrounding the perforated portion ofsaid pipe, and a wrapping of wiregauze around the asbestus,substantially as described."

4. The combination, with two generatorchambers, of an oilsupplypipe foreach chamber, a gas-heating chamber inclosing each generator-chamber,with a space between them, a burner beneath the gas-heating chambersconnected therewith, and a dctlector-plate above the gas-heatingchambers, substantially as described.

5. The combination, with two gasgencrating chambers and a gas-receivingchamber below the same, of a neck or necks connecting the gasgencratingchambers with the gas-rei ceiving chamber, provided with a separatepassage for each generator chamber, substantially as described.

G. The combination of two gas-generator chambers, a gasreceivin'gchamber beneath the same, a separate passage connecting each generatorchamber with the gas receiving chamber, one of said passages beingprovided with a valve, a'gasometer, and a pipe connecting the gasometerwith the passage above the valve, substantially as described.

7. A burner having a vaporizirig-chamber, au oil supply pipe openinginto the same,'a gas-hcating chamber' inclosing the same, a gasrcccivingchamber located beneath the gasheating chamber and having gas-educts inits upper side, and a passage communicating with said gas-heatingchamber and said gas-receiv ing chamber, substantially as described.

S. A burner having a vaporiziiig-chamber, an oilsnpply pipe opening intothe same, a gas-heating chamber inelosing the same, a gasrceeiviugchamber located beneath the gasheating chamber and having gas-educts inits upper side, and a passage communicating with said gas-heatingchamber and gas-receiving chamber, and a flamc-detlecting plate abovesaid gas-heating chamber, substantially as described.

9. lhecombinatiom with vaporizing-cham ber II, having the opening o o inits walls, an oil-supply pipe opening into the same, of the inclosinggasheating chamber A and the gasrecciving chamber B, having thegas-educts l in its upper side and communicating with said gas-heatingchamber, substantially as described.

10. The combination, with the vaporizingchamber II, having the openingso o, an oilsupply pipe extending within the same and having perforationsin that portion within the vaporizing-chamber, ofthe inelosinggas-heatingchamber A, the gas receiving chambcrB, communicating withsaid chamber A and hav. ing openings Z on its upper side, and thedei'lectonplate D above the gas-heating chamber A, substantially asdescribed.

1l. The combination, with the vaporizingchamber H, having openings o o,an oil-supply pipc extending within the same, having perforations o inthat portion within the va porij/.ing-chamber, and the same portion being surrounded by a fibrous nou-combustible material ineloscd in anetting of wire-gauze, the inclosing gas-heating chamber A, a tube orleg, G, and the gas receiving chamber B, having thcopcnings Z, ofthepipcsfand h., having valvesgand g2, substantially as described.

l2. The combination, with the vaporizingv chamber H, having openings oo, the inclosing gasheating chamber A, a tube or tubcs,C,thegas-receiving chamber D, having openings Z, and the delcctor-platc D, ofthe pipes f and 7L, substantially as described.

13. The combination,witha generatorfchanr ber, of an oil-supply pipeextending within the same, the part within said chamber beingperforated, a stratum of asbestus or other suitable brous orporousnon-combustible material snrrounding the perforated portion of saidpipe, a wrapping of wire-gauze around the asbestus or other fibrousnon-combustible material, agasheating chamberinclosing said gasgenerating "chamber, a gas-receivingA chamber having openings thereinprovided with suitable burners locatedy beneathI the gas-heatingchamber, a tube 'or tubes communicating between said gasheating and thesaid gas-receiving cham'- bers7 a deiiectonplate above the gas-heatingchamber, and pipes f an'd'h, having valves g and g2, substantially asdescribed..

14. The combination, in an oil-burner, of two generator-chambers, eachhaving an oilsuppl y pipe within the same, the parts of said oil-supplypipes within the said chambers being perforated, a stratum of asbestusor other 'suitable ibrous non-combustible material sur- `rounding theperforated portions of said pipes,

ber having openings therein provided with suitable burners, and locatedbeneath the gasheating chambers,asupporting tube or leg having passagescommunicating between said gasf heating chambers and the saidgas-receiving chamber, one of such passages or tubes being provided witha valve, and pipes f, f', and h, having val ves g, g', and g?,substantially as described.

' AARON F. RANDALL. Witnesses:

G. A. PREVOST, J. H. VHITAKER.

